A Gold Bottom But Will the U.S. Dollar Cooperate?

Gold, and by extension the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), has had a rough year. However, based on a historic flip in speculative positioning in gold futures, a bottom is likely in for GLD. According to the tweet and chart below, the net speculative positioning in gold recently went net negative for the first time in … Read more

Above the 40 (August 15, 2018) – A Still Shaky But Now Stretched Stock Market

AT40 = 47.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 53.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 14.6 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary I typically consider the market stretched to the downside when AT40 (T2108), the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving … Read more

Redfin Waves A Red Flag Warning At the Housing Market

Redfin (RDFN) may have provided one of the first validations of the (presumed) investor fears that have weighed down the stocks of home builders since the February sell-off. In its last earnings report on August 9, 2018, RDFN provided this brief, yet significant, warning: “We expect U.S. home sales growth to slow and even perhaps … Read more

Above the 40 (August 10, 2018) – Facing Fresh Macro Challenges and Lacking Technical Confirmations, the S&P 500 Stalls Under All-Time Highs

AT40 = 51.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 55.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 13.2 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The indicators barely changed from the last Above the 40 post, but the technical winds are likely changing yet again. A little … Read more

Above the 40 (August 2, 2018) – A Trillion Dollar Tailwind As Apple Helps Will the Stock Market Higher

AT40 = 52.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 55.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 12.2 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The technical winds may be on the upswing. Last weekend, I pointed out how bearish divergence preceded and warned of the sell-off … Read more

Cocoa Prices Drop On Optimism for the 2018/2019 Main Crop Season

The price of cocoa has been in near freefall again. The picture-perfect bounce for iPath Bloomberg Cocoa SubTR ETN (NIB) from its support at 200-day moving average (DMA) reversed into a recent 200DMA breakdown and a convincing breakdown below the June low. Source: FreeStockCharts.com As usual, a flurry of news exists that helps explain at … Read more

The U.S. Dollar Idles While Rate Hike Odds and Trade Pressures Creep Higher

I am riding the long U.S. dollar index (DXY) trade based on two simple drivers: 1) a U.S. Federal Reserve pacing for four rate hikes in 2018, and 2) an expanding trade war, especially against China, which on balance will create more demand for U.S. dollars especially relative to those currencies who stand to lose … Read more

Above the 40 (July 27, 2018) – Stock Market Weaknesses Confirm Earlier Bearish Divergence

AT40 = 49.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 53.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 13.0 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The S&P 500 (SPY) managed to gain on the week, but it was not easy. Each day of the week delivered new … Read more

Housing Market Review (July, 2018) – A Wobbly Edifice As Builders Break Down And Data Weaken

I saw a flicker of hope for home builders in the May Housing Market Review. Traders decided to snuff that flicker out very quickly afterward. When I wrote June’s housing market review and described a “struggling flicker,” the iShares US Home Construction ETF (ITB) was once again bouncing off the bottom of 2018’s trading range. … Read more

Above the 40 (July 20, 2018) – Bored With Economic Wars: The S&P 500 Meanders Through Minefields

AT40 = 57.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = N/A% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 12.9 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary I remain fascinated by the S&P 500’s increasing resilience to worsening macro-economic headlines. The apparent boredom with the headlines about trade wars, … Read more